Office of Diversity & Inclusion
The mission of the Office of Diversity & Inclusion (ODI) is to provide leadership and accountability that fosters an inclusive educational experience and equitable workforce environment.
ODI’s goal of inclusive excellence is to merge D&I in university operations and processes which will continuously improve the experiences and outcome for underserved and marginalized students, faculty, and staff. ODI’s priorities include student success, faculty recruitment and retention and education and scholarship focused on inclusive teaching, research and professional development.
To accomplish our priorities, ODI supervises and guides professional units whose purpose and mission is to promote mattering and belonging. These units include the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the Clarence L. Barney Jr. African American Cultural Center, and the Women’s Center. Lastly, ODI works closely with University committees, commissions, task forces, and affinity groups whose charge is to support underrepresented LSU community members.
In Memoriam
The LSU Office of Diversity & Inclusion is saddened to learn of the passing of Ernest
Sickey, former Chairman of the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana. Because of Mr. Sickey’s visionary work and advocacy, the Coushatta were the first
tribe recognized by Louisiana in 1972 and one of few recognized by the U.S. Department
of the Interior in 1973. Mr. Sickey worked tirelessly with U.S. presidents and governors, national,
state, and local governments, and private industry on behalf of the Coushatta Tribe.
His personal motto “the struggle has made us stronger,” continues to inspire us.
Our state has lost a great leader and our hearts are with the Coushatta Tribe, Chairman Sickey’s son, David Sickey, a member of LSU’s National Diversity Advisory Board, and the rest of the Sickey family.
